Arms Seizure in Poonch Exposes Hizbul Mujahideen’s Deceptive Network Using Army Porters

The Jammu and Kashmir police, in a significant breakthrough against cross-border terrorism, have recovered three more AK-47 assault rifles and a large cache of ammunition from the Mandi sector near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.

The seizure, made on Sunday, has brought the total number of rifles recovered in the past two weeks to seven, shining a spotlight on the dangerous levels of infiltration and deception being attempted by Pakistan-backed groups.

What makes the case particularly alarming is the betrayal from within—a group of young men, ostensibly working as porters assisting the Army in carrying supplies, were secretly acting as conduits for Hizbul Mujahideen.

Their dual role reveals the insidious ways terror outfits exploit trust and logistics to push their agenda across the border.

A Stealth Operation Uncovered

The arrested trio—Tariq Sheikh of Azamabad, Riyaz Ahmad, and Mohammad Shafi of Chamber Kinari—are all in their 20s.

According to investigators, the three had been recruited by Hizbul Mujahideen commander Habibullah, a veteran militant who crossed the LoC into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the 1990s and has recently resurfaced in efforts to revive Hizbul’s fading network in Poonch.

Police sources revealed that the group had already managed to smuggle two consignments of arms across the LoC.

Their deceit came to light when two AK-47 rifles were recovered during raids in Azamabad on August 30, leading to the arrest of Sheikh and Riyaz. Persistent interrogation yielded another two rifles from Sheikh’s rented accommodation in Mandi Jallian, after which Mohammad Shafi was picked up.

The investigation culminated on Sunday with the recovery of three additional AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, and other warlike stores from the Sawjian area—barely a stone’s throw from the barbed-wire fence that marks the LoC.

Officials said the consignments were being stealthily dropped across the fence by handlers from Pakistan and retrieved by the accused.

IGP Praises ‘Dogged Determination’

Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Jammu zone, Bhimsen Tuti, lauded the investigation team for their persistence. In a post on X, he wrote:

“Dogged determination and relentless investigation led to the arrest of 03 terror sympathisers, along with the recovery of 07 AKs (04 recovered earlier) and a large quantity of warlike stores in Poonch.”

The case underlines the evolving nature of Pakistan’s proxy war in Jammu & Kashmir. Instead of relying solely on trained infiltrators crossing the LoC, terror groups are embedding their operatives within communities, even among those who work with security forces.

By exploiting the trust given to civilian porters, Hizbul Mujahideen had hoped to quietly move arms into the hinterland without raising suspicion.

A Deeper Strategy of Infiltration

Officials believe that this episode is just one example of a broader pattern where Pakistan-backed groups are attempting to seed infiltration through “ordinary-looking” individuals—youths, villagers, and labourers—who can blend into civilian life while quietly executing tasks for terror outfits.

The fact that these porters were positioned close to the Army’s logistical channels demonstrates the depth of Pakistan’s strategy to use stealth and deception to undermine security in the region.

Had the consignment not been intercepted in time, the seven rifles could have been used to arm sleeper cells or revive dormant terror modules in Poonch.

The foiling of this plot not only prevents fresh violence but also sends a strong message that the security grid is vigilant to both external and internal threats.

For now, Vijay, Riyaz, and Shafi remain in custody while investigations continue to map their wider network and uncover the extent of Pakistan’s renewed attempts to revive Hizbul Mujahideen.

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